We have your headlines from all across football in the Americas region as the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals were set, and the Copa Libertadores draw was made for 2026.
Tigres Comeback The Highlight of CONCACAF Champions Cup
March 2026 has been a memorable month for fans of Tigres UANL. First it was Andre-Pierre Gignac’s vintage Clasico Regio winner in the dying minutes that both defeated a rival and helped the club improve their chances of reaching the Liga MX playoffs. Then it was an incredible home comeback at the Universitario stadium, capped off by Fernando Gorriaran’s goal in the 98th minute that completed a Tigres comeback to beat FC Cincinnati 5-4 on aggregate.
In the first leg, Tigres arrived late after traveling that day, Nahuel Guzman’s errors compounded their tired legs, and FC Cincinnati were 3-0 winners. Playing at home, Tigres still believed the comeback was possible, and it was game on after FC Cincinnati collapsed in the first two minutes, conceding two goals and making the tie 3-2. Ozziel Herrera and Rodrigo Aguirre would both score a brace on the night, Aguirre had an iconic goal for his new club, and Tigres was leading 4-0, but Kevin Denkey’s ability to snatch a goal back for FC Cincinnati had them advancing on away goals until Gorriaran finally scored the winner.
Tigres had 58% possession and 19 shots on the night, Cincinnati had just 9, the team from MLS was passive and looked out of their depth and overwhelmed with frequency on the night, the weight of playing in Mexico once again dashing the dreams of an otherwise respected MLS side. This is far from the best Tigres team, it’s a team that’s inconsistent, that feels long in the tooth, but it’s also beginning to feel a bit like a squad with magic, the late goal by Gorriaran felt inevitable. In the quarterfinals, Tigres will host Seattle Sounders before traveling to Seattle for the second leg.
San Diego FC’s Dream Ends in Toluca
The previous night San Diego FC suffered the same fate as soon as they crossed La Frontera, after an incredible and brave 3-2 home win against Liga MX champions Toluca, there was an assumption they were ready for a fight at Estadio Nemesio Diez, but the second half proved otherwise. Toluca was only leading 1-0 at the half, but Paulinho and J.R. Angulo’s (second goal) suddenly put them up 3-0 quickly and put the tie out of reach. Man of the match Jesus Gallardo added an extra one late and Toluca, 6-3 winners, still look like a side that can win the Champions Cup, even without Marcel Ruiz, they lost the Mexico international to a knee injury.
Toluca had 27 shots, San Diego FC had 5, you can say what you want about the MLS salary cap, about the depth, but the fear that MLS sides have when they play in Mexico is a long-running problem, Liga MX is a solid league, but it’s far from elite, and they shouldn’t be good enough to simply batter MLS sides when they are at home.
Nashville SC Stuns Inter Miami and the Rest of R16 Results
I wrote in more detail about Nashville SC’s 1-1 (away goals) win over Inter Miami in the round of 16 of the 2026 Champions Cup. Nashville SC have played Miami frequently but they don’t usually beat them. Lionel Messi scored his 900th goal but it was Cristian Espinoza that stole the show with his second half goal, as Nashville SC bravely defended, and Miami’s attack was kept in check. Nashville advances, and will next play a Club America side that is honestly poor in terms of form. America only managed a 1-1 draw at home against Philadelphia Union, an MLS side that was also struggling. America were 2-1 winners on aggregate.
They join LA Galaxy, LAFC, Cruz Azul, and the Seattle Sounders in the quarterfinals. Galaxy finished out a 6-0 sweep of Mount Pleasant, LAFC needed a goal from David Martinez in the 92nd minute to advance away in Costa Rica over Alajuelense. The Costa Rican side represented their nation well, but it was still painful to concede.
Monterrey had a flicker of hope against Cruz Azul at halftime, but Cruz Azul scored one more and it finished 4-3 on aggregate, the Rayados project in shambles, while Cruz Azul could win two titles this season, looking strong in Liga MX and in CONCACAF play. The Sounders won both legs over Vancouver Whitecaps in a Cascadia clash.
Quarterfinal Matchups:
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LAFC vs Cruz Azul
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Nashville SC vs Club América
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Tigres UANL vs Seattle Sounders
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Toluca vs LA Galaxy
2026 Copa Libertadores Draw Set
Flamengo remain favorites to repeat as Copa Libertadores champions, they are in a group with Estudiantes the recent Liga Argentina champion, Independiente Medellin from Colombia and Peru’s Cusco.
Group B is quite open, Uruguay’s Nacional is here, Peru’s Champions Universitario, Chile’s Champion Coquimbo Unido, and Colombia’s Deportes Tolima.
Group C will have Fluminense as a heavy favorite, Group D has Cruzeiro under new management, Boca Juniors, Universidad Catolica, and surprise packet Barcelona SC.
Group E will have Penarol from Uruguay, and Memphis Depay and Jesse Lingard’s Corinthians as co-favorites, Santa Fe and Platense are also here. Group F is all about Brazil’s Palmeiras, Group G has LDU Quito, Lanus, and Mirassol. Group H will have Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle, the strongest team in the country recently, and Angel Di Maria’s Rosario Central as likely to advance.
Copa Sudamericana Draw Set
The Sudamericana draw was also set, South America’s second competition. Brazilian squads look strong to advance, RB Bragantino is in the same group as River Plate. Vasco da Gama will get a clash with Paraguay’s Olimpia. The famous Racing Club and Botafogo are in Group E together, Neymar and Santos will play San Lorenzo in Group D. Colombia’s Millonarios will take on Sao Paulo in Group C, last year Sao Paulo eliminated Colombian side Atletico Nacional in the Libertadores. Group A with Tigre from Argentina, America de Cali from Colombia, Macara from Ecuador and Alianza Atletico from Peru might be the most balanced and interesting.
Millonarios Crushes Atletico Nacional Again, This Time in Bogota
After Millonarios had qualified for the Copa Sudamericana by winning away in Medellin, they were set to host their hated rival Atletico Nacional at home in Bogota in the domestic Liga Betplay Dimayor. Despite Atletico Nacional’s leadership of the table, it was Millonarios, currently 9th in the standings, that were in control of the match. Atletico Nacional’s Alfredo Morelos missed a penalty early in the match, Rodrigo Contreras scored again against Nacional less than a minute later on the other end. After 49 minutes, Atletico Nacional were playing with 9 men, and Millonarios took advantage, adding two more goals and letting their home fans celebrate a 3-0 win, as Diego Arias job security at Atletico Nacional continues to be questioned.
Main Photo Credit: Smartframe Images
